JetAway

Totally agree. I now avoid all so-called "Polaris" onboard meals and eat before my flights, preferably in a Polaris Lounge, where available. In stark contrast to onboard catering the Lounge offerings vary from good to great.

narvik

...for now!

dilanesp

It's much cheaper to deliver a luxury meal in a lounge than on a plane. I wouldn't be surprised if more airlines go in this direction.

st530

Exact same menu as I posted in #515 above. Went with the pre-plated tenderloin. Hard, chewy and gray. Not good. Champagne was Lanson 1760 Black label brut. Tasty. Had the ubiquitous Colby red with the steak (didn't help). Desserts ruled. I liked the frittata too. Good crew.

Santander

Agreed on overnight TATLs ex-EWR (also more time to sleep) or even ex-ORD, but we don't have that luxury on westbound TATLs and other long-hauls. And still no Polaris Lounge at IAD.

SEA-Flyer

This is true for when departing from somewhere with a Polaris lounge. But when flying from an outstation, they really need to up their game, as the Polaris lounge experience isn't available, and the food at the non-Polaris lounges isn't that good. Flew CDG-EWR this week. The Star Alliance lounge food is mediocre. Onboard the food was dreadful once again, with service to match (at least United is consistent with regards to the onboard soft product - crappy food and crappy service). First choice was the Chicken, second choice was the Pasta, my third choice was the beef. So of course I ended up with the fish.



Didn't take any pictures of the food, because why bother - the presentation was not that great and the photo won't do justice to how bad it tasted.

IAH2MEL

macaroni and cheese pie. so many unanswered questions as to how that ended up on the menu....

uastarflyer

SEA-Flyer

Artpen100

The hamburger Wellington is okay, as is the mac and cheese, though I wouldn't rave about either one. For entrees, I confess I rarely order the fish as it is often - not always, but often - awful tasting. With the short rib, you know exactly what you are getting. Zero variation. Having recently had my first Polaris lounge experience (EWR), I, too, would prefer to eat in one of those and just go to sleep on the flight. That is what I also do on BA, where their lounges have dining, like IAD, though for the earlier flight, I might have the cheese course and port onboard before turning in.

UA_Flyer

SS255

Good Lord! Every single entree on PEK-ORD has mushrooms in it. I hate mushrooms! I would have complained to 1K Voice had I been on that flight! I think that there is a reasonable expectation level that there will be at least 2 mushroom-free options.

bluedemon211

+100. My issue is I am allergic to mushrooms! That makes some of these menus really tough to navigate.

HNLbasedFlyer

If you are allergic to mushrooms, you should order a special meal - especially flying out of China where there is a love of mushrooms

drowelf

No kidding, the DW has the same issue with Bell Peppers. So many dishes have them, so she often ends up with anything that doesn't.